The Effect of Birth Ball Exercises during Pregnancy on Mode of Delivery in Primiparous Women

Introduction

Childbirth is a natural process that can be generally managed without any medical interventions. Natural delivery is promoted in many countries, given its cost-effectiveness, shorter length of hospital stay, lack of anesthetic requirement, and lower rates of infection and hemorrhage after delivery, compared to cesarean section (abbreviated as c-section) (1).

C-section may result in several maternal and neonatal complications such as hemorrhage (2), infection (3), increased mortality rate (4),

premature birth (5), and neonatal respiratory distress (6,7). Moreover, mothers’ inabilities after c-section lead to unsuccessful breastfeeding and impose financial burdens on families (8). As recent evidence suggests, c-section results in postpartum depression and decreases fertility rates (9).

C-section rate is high in most countries. Rate of c-section was estimated at 32.9% (2009) in USA, 39.8% in Italy (2007), 30.6% in Australia (2007), 35.3% in Korea (2008), and 37.7% in Turkey (2006) (10). The estimated rates in Iran were 40.4% and 41.9% in 2005 and 2012, respectively (11, 12). Overall, according to World Health Organization (2007), c-section rate should not exceed 10-15% in any region (13).

Several factors could lead to increased c-section rate, dystocia, problems during vaginal delivery, breech presentation, fetal distress, and decreased maternal activity during pregnancy (14). Proper exercises during pregnancy strengthen the pelvic floor muscles by 90%, which is essential for natural delivery (15). Several studies have evaluated the effect of exercise on mode of delivery (15). Artal et al. (2007) showed decreased c-section rate as a result of regular exercise (16), while Kaufmann et al. (1987) showed no relationship between exercise during pregnancy and mode of delivery (17).

Birth ball is a new exercise tool, which can be used by mothers during pregnancy. This type of exercise includes different movements performed in different positions (18). Birth ball is a large firm ball, made of soft plastic and filled with air. This ball can be easily deflated or washed and is available in different diameters (35-85 cm) (supporting up to 136 Kg).

For the first time, Perz and Simkine introduced birth balls in antenatal classes. Gradually, use of this exercise tool became widespread and was recommended for improving mothers’ fitness during pregnancy and postpartum period. In fact, exercise with birth ball is considered a helpful, non-pharmacological strategy (19).

The main advantages of birth ball exercise during pregnancy include postural corrections, relaxation, and muscle stretching and strengthening (20). Sekendiz et al. (2012) indicated that movements with birth ball increase the strength, resistance, flexibility, and balance of the trunk, lower back, and quadriceps (21). Chang et al. (2011) conducted a clinical trial to determine the effect of performing birth ball exercises during the final weeks of pregnancy. They showed lower c-section rate in the intervention group, compared to the control group, who did not perform any exercises (22).

Tsang et al. (2012) aimed to determine the effect of birth ball exercise during labor on delivery outcomes; as the results indicated, birth ball had no significant impact on mode of delivery (23). Contrarily, Mathew et al. (2012) showed that using a birth ball during labor was associated with a higher rate of vaginal delivery in the intervention group, compared to the control group (24).

Contradictory results and insufficient information have been reported regarding the effect of special pelvic exercises by birth ball on mode of delivery. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of performing birth ball exercises during the final weeks of pregnancy on mode of delivery in primiparous women.

Materials and Methods

 This clinical trial was conducted on 54 primiparous women, referring to Mashhad Omolbanin Hospital from September to March 2013. Sample size was calculated as 54 subjects, based on an article by Mathew et al. (2011) (α=0.05 and β=0.2) (24). The ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) approved this study (approval code: 920056), and written informed consents were obtained from the subjects. Ethical considerations were taken into account throughout the study.

 The subjects were selected, using accessible sampling. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) age range of 18-35 years; 2) gestational age of 34 weeks; 3) primiparity and singleton pregnancy; 4) cephalic presentation; 5) maternal height of 150 cm or above; 6) body mass index (BMI) of 19.8-30 kg/m² before pregnancy or the first 12 weeks of pregnancy; 7) lack of regular physical activity during pregnancy; 8) non-use of cigarettes, hookah, or narcotics; 9) fetal heart rate of 120-160 bpm; 10) lack of diagnosed fetal malformations in sonogrophy; 11) mother’s inclination towards vaginal delivery; 12) no medical problems at the beginning of the study; and 13) no musculoskeletal deformities or defects for doing birth ball exercises.

The exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) medical problems or pregnancy-related complications during the study; 2) abnormal fetal presentation (during the study or labor); 3) childbirth before 36 weeks or after 42 weeks of gestation; 4) maternal weight of ≥ 90 kg during the study or labor; 5) neonatal weight of either ≥ 4000 g or < 2500 g; 6) diagnosis of cephalo-pelvic disproportion; and 7) not exercising more than 3 sessions (in the intervention group).

Participants were randomly divided into intervention (birth ball exercise) (27) and control groups (27). At the beginning of sampling, weekdays were coded from 1 to 6. Then, 3 days were allocated to the control group, using computerized random numbers. Data were collected using a questionnaire and forms for recording birth ball exercises, examination results, and observations. In order to confirm the validity of the questionnaire and forms, content validity was used. Reliability of the questionnaire (r=0.87), birth ball exercise form (r=0.95), and examination and observation forms (r=0.89) was confirmed by assessing inter-rater reliability.

Birth ball exercises included 10 movements in 4 positions (sitting, standing, kneeling, and squatting). Mothers were given face-to-face instructions and were provided with film presentations (20 minutes during a 1-hour session). An educational CD and an instructive booklet were given to mothers in the intervention group. The intervention group performed the movements weekly under the researcher’s supervision at the hospital and 3 times a week at home with the help of a trained participant.

Participants performed birth ball exercises during 16-24 sessions (20 minutes per session). After the instructional sessions and performing exercise movements, Borg scale was applied to determine the intensity of exercise movements; this scale is a vertical line graded from 6 to 20. In the current study, 14 was the maximum severity of exercises. If participants performed heavy exercises or did not perform the movements, they were excluded from the study. The subjects were allowed to leave the study at any point.

 Both intervention and control groups received routine hospital care. The two groups were instructed to inform the researcher and refer to Omolbanin Hospital (if necessary), in case they experienced any contractions. The researcher visited the hospital, controlled subjects’ uterine contractions (at referral and every hour after admission), and performed vaginal examinations every 2 hours for determining dilatation and descent of the fetal head. Data related to fetal presentation, maternal status, labor progression, and neonatal status were recorded in examination and observation forms in both groups. Finally, rates of vaginal delivery and c-section were compared between the two groups.

At first, 57 participants were introduced to the study. However, 1 mother from the intervention group (for not doing exercises more than 3 sessions) and 2 women from the control group (given her willingness to leave the study) were excluded from the study. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed, using SPSS version 16. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

 Thetwo groups were matched in terms of maternal age, based on Mann-Whitney U test (P=0.176). They were also similar regarding BMI and receiving prenatal care, based on Student’s t-test (P=0.245 and P=0.865, respectively) (Table 1).

According to Mann-Whitney U test, the two groups were similar in terms of education level (P=0.769); they were also matched regarding occupational status, based on Chi-square test (P=0.843). According to Chi-square test results, the two groups were also similar in terms of monthly income (P=0.54) and referrals for receiving prenatal care (P=0.976) (Table 2). Chi-square test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of fetal head descent and rotation at the beginning of the active phase (dilatation: 3-5 cm) and second stage of labor (P<0.05) (Table 3).